PEABODY– The only goal scored in the Lynnfield boys hockey team’s 1-0 overtime win over Cape Ann League rival North Reading was a true Pioneers team effort.
After a North Reading icing, the puck was dropped to Hornet goalie Cam Alter’s left. Lynnfield center John Simonetti got the draw back to Tyler Scoppettuolo at the right point. Scoppettuolo whipped it at the net and it was tipped in by Sam Pifko from just outside the crease with 3:51 left in the overtime period, giving the Pioneers a hard-fought and well-earned victory at McVann-O’Keefe Rink.
Lynnfield coach Jon Gardner said the Pioneers came into Saturday’s game knowing North Reading would make them earn everything they got. The Pioneers came away with one point for MIAA state tournament purposes and one point toward the CAL standings. Currently at the front of the pack in the CAL standings are the red-hot Masconomet Chieftains who stand at 8-2 on the season, 6-0 in league action. Lynnfield (7-3-2, 3-1-1 in CAL games) still carries a fighting chance at catching the Chieftains, meaning every point goes a long way.
“It goes in the books as one point for our overall record, and we get another one in the CAL, which we need to keep pace with Masconomet, so that point helps us. Not scoring an overtime goal would really have hurt our slim chances of catching them,” Gardner said. “We warned our guys that North Reading would play like it’s the Stanley Cup. Unfortunately we’ve been having trouble in our first periods and that was the case (Saturday).”
Both goalies brought their A-games in this one. Lynnfield netminder Jake DeBenedicits and North Reading’s Alter went toe to toe in keeping the game scoreless through the first three periods of play. DeBenedictis was especially solid in the first period when his team was outshot 11-1 in a slow start. The Pioneers shook that slow start and got on track in the second and third frames, pumping another 24 shots on Alter, but could not get one by him in regulation time.
DeBenedictis was glad his team got another point in overtime for the CAL, but felt his Pioneers need to come away with two points in regulation if they want to improve their chances of catching the Chieftains and set up a nice playoff run.
“I’ll take a tie certainly, over a loss, but in these games I think we’ve got to get a win, especially for the tournament,” the junior goalie said. “It was frustrating early on for us, we got two quick penalties, we were down a couple of men, but I think we really picked it up as the game went along, and we were able to score in overtime.”
DeBenedictis finished with 29 saves, including a couple of good ones in extra time before his teammates got one by Alter for the win.
Hornet coach Brian McAuliffe said it helps his team, playing well against a good team like Lynnfield, saying it was the best game they’ve played all season.
Lynnfield now turns its attention to Wednesday’s (7) league game against Triton at Henry Graf Skating Rink.
